Belfast Agreement: Ulster Scots Language

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the memorandum from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland to the Members of the Inter-department Charter Group of 2 June 2001 which referred to the use of minority languages applies to Ulster Scots as required in the Belfast agreement; and, if not, why.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I am not aware of a memorandum dated 2 June 2001. I would however refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 9 January (Official Report, col. WA 233) which deals with an internal minute of 21 June 2001 addressing the obligations arising under Article 10 of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In Northern Ireland Article 10 currently applies only to Irish.

Northern Ireland: Carryduff Primary School

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a site in Carryduff has been acquired for the proposed St Ita's primary school; at what stage is the planning for this school; what is its proposed enrolment; whether funds have been allocated for the scheme; and when it is programmed to begin work on site.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The new St Ita's primary school was included in the Northern Ireland Office's capital programme announced in March 2001, when funding of £4.5 million was made available for the building of a 496–525 pupil school. Work on the building of the school was originally programmed to start in February 2002. Due to difficulties in obtaining full planning permission for the site at Purdysburn Road, Beechill, Castlereagh, it did not prove possible to meet this timescale. The issues surrounding planning permission have been resolved and detailed planning of the new school is well under way. It is estimated that work on site should begin in approximately six months' time.

Northern Ireland: Carryduff Primary School

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals there are to redevelop St Joseph's primary school in Carryduff; at what stage is the planning; what is the proposed enrolment; whether funds have been allocated for this school project; and when it is programmed to begin work on site.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The school is part of a cluster of schools being taken forward under the public/private partnerships programme. A project board has been established to oversee the project, personnel have been trained in PPP procurement procedures and consultants are currently preparing an outline business case. The long-term enrolment is between 496 and 525. As the project is still at the early planning stages a date to begin work on site has not yet been established. However, it is not expected to be before spring 2005. The project will be subject to a value-for-money deal being secured with a private sector partner.

Northern Ireland Civil Service: Equality Officers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who is responsible for assessing the impact of Northern Ireland Civil Service equality officers, and for balancing costs against measurable results.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Priorities for government expenditure are agreed by Ministers, and departmental accounting officers are responsible for the efficiency and effectiveness of all expenditure under their control.

Northern Ireland Fair Employment Legislation

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have reviewed the impact of Northern Ireland anti-discrimination and equality law since 1973; if so, on how many occasions; whether they have published the results of these reviews; and when they intend to review the impact of the Equality Commission established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Northern Ireland fair employment legislation has been reviewed on two occasions, with reviews published in October 1987 and in June 1997. As a result of these reviews two White Papers were published. Fair Employment in Northern Ireland (Cm 380) was published in May 1988 and Partnership for Equality (Cm 3890) was published in March 1998. Copies of these White Papers are available in the Library.
	Following each review, the fair employment legislation was amended. In 1989 the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act included the extension of the law to cover indirect discrimination in employment, the introduction of compulsory monitoring by employers and the establishment of the Fair Employment Commission and the Fair Employment Tribunal. In 1998, the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 further strengthened the law and included the extension of coverage to goods, facilities and services.
	In relation to disability discrimination law, government set up the UK Disability Rights Task Force to consider how best to secure civil rights for disabled people and its report From Exclusion to Inclusion was published in December 1999. This covered both legislative and non-legislative issues.
	The Northern Ireland Executive response to these recommendations entitled Improving Civil Rights for Disabled People was published on 18 September 2001. A report on the Northern Ireland consultation was published in December 2002. The consultation document and consultation report are available on the OFMDFM website: www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/equality/consultation/index.htm
	Amendments to the legislation will be taken forward as necessary.
	The Equality Commission's strategic objectives and performance measures are agreed by government on a tri-annual basis. The commission will shortly publish its 2003–06 corporate plan. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland's annual business objectives and performance are monitored on an ongoing basis by OFMDFM and are reported on in the organisation's annual report and accounts which is laid before Parliament and the Assembly. Non-departmental public bodies are normally subject to review on a five-yearly basis. Consideration is currently being given to such a review of the commission.

Northern Ireland Fisheries

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals there are to provide direct financial aid to the fishing vessels in Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The fisheries measures in the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity, co-funded by European Structural Funds and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development include a number of measures directly applicable to fishing vessels: decommissioning of fishing vessels; safety equipment and training; and marketing and quality on board fishing vessels.
	I have put forward proposals for a new fishing vessel decommissioning scheme, and possible arrangements for transitional aid for fishermen. In addition, I shall make grant-aid available towards the extension of satellite monitoring arrangements later this year.

Northern Ireland: Vehicle Testing

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many MoT certificates have been issued in the last five years by each of the MoT test centres in Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency carries out the full range of statutory roadworthiness tests in Northern Ireland. These include tests on motor cars and motor cycles for which a vehicle test certificate (MoT) is issued as well as other categories such as heavy goods vehicles, taxis, buses, etc for which other certificates are issued.
	Information by centre is maintained on the basis of applications received. Figures for the past five years are presented in the table.
	
		
			 Centre 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			 Armagh 17,212 17,270 18,351 18,318 19,532 
			 Ballymena 32,173 34,245 34,284 44,460 26,340 
			 Belfast 49,609 56,164 57,548 57,644 42,088 
			 Coleraine 29,848 38,233 32,170 26,632 36,150 
			 Cookstown 28,807 28,653 29,239 29,957 35,274 
			 Craigavon 25,282 27,243 28,710 32,676 30,667 
			 Downpatrick 19,367 20,156 19,916 21,177 20,602 
			 Enniskillen 20,808 20,588 21,407 24,160 16,749 
			 Larne 15,773 14,112 16,007 11,173 21,026 
			 Lisburn 29,333 29,588 30,135 20,549 34,180 
			 Londonderry 25,695 26,711 27,559 31,720 28,007 
			 Mallusk 45,511 43,070 42,182 51,836 65,580 
			 Newry 29,334 29,995 30,514 34,672 38,217 
			 Newtownards 41,383 42,445 45,290 49,874 53,864 
			 Omagh 18,014 18,732 18,102 20,035 32,195 
			 Totals 428,149 447,205 451,414 474,883 500,471 
		
	
	The figures include all categories of vehicle for which a test is required and an application has been received. Retests have been excluded.
	The figures include a small proportion of applications for which a test certificate is not issued. These comprise tests cancelled by the applicant, applicants who fail to appear for an appointment and those who do submit for a retest after failing a test.

Northern Ireland: Vehicle Testing

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average waiting time for applications to be processed in each of the MoT test centres in Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In 2002–03 the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency had an overall target waiting time for vehicle test activity of 21 days. The table below outlines the average waiting time at each of the agency's 15 test centres during the year.
	
		
			 Centre Average Waiting Times 2002–03 
			 Armagh 16.86 Days 
			 Ballymena 16.10 Days 
			 Belfast 18.04 Days 
			 Coleraine 22.25 Days 
			 Cookstown 20.79 Days 
			 Craigavon 12.47 Days 
			 Downpatrick 14.67 Days 
			 Enniskillen 23.42 Days 
			 Larne 16.30 Days 
			 Lisburn 14.47 Days 
			 Londonderry 24.52 Days 
			 Mallusk 21.49 Days 
			 Newry 19.09 Days 
			 Newtownards 27.11 Days 
			 Omagh 26.43 Days 
			 Overall Average 20.31 Days 
		
	
	While the overall target was met, the phased closure of test centres during the year to facilitate the installation of new vehicle test equipment has had a distorting effect on the waiting times achieved at individual centres.

Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who provided the funding for the range of smoking chambers which the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, has decided to build; and why the hospital has not banned smoking in common with other hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Royal Hospitals Trust is funding the smoking rooms using capital resources allocated by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to health and social services trusts for use in accordance with local priorities.
	Since 1994 health and social services bodies have been required to operate no-smoking policies. This recognises however that, where necessary, smoking rooms should be set aside for patients and staff who cannot stop smoking.

Lisburn and Antrim Railway Line

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that the railway line between Lisburn and Antrim will be maintained after the withdrawal of passenger services so that it will be available for a possible circular service in the future.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: When regular passenger services are withdrawn from the railway line between Lisburn and Antrim at the end of June 2003, the line will be maintained to a standard that will enable trains to use it as a diversionary route in emergency circumstances, albeit under strict safety rules and speed restrictions. This arrangement will be reviewed one year on from the cessation of scheduled passenger services to ascertain actual usage of the line for diversionary purposes. The review will consider the full range of options for the future usage of the line at this stage.
	Further to my answer of 25 February 2003 (Official Report, col. WA 24) I can confirm that the Belfast Circle Line remains a longer-term possibility.

Cross-Border Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 30 April (WA 101) concerning Cross-Border Implementation Bodies, who approved the remuneration package of the Chief Executive of the Special European Union Programmes body and when; on what basis it was calculated; and how it relates to the remuneration package of the Chief Executives of other Cross Border Bodies.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The salary ranges for the chief executives of North/South Implementation Bodies and other conditions of service were formally approved by the North/South Ministerial Council at a plenary meeting on 26 September 2000.
	The chief executive post for the SEUPB was assessed as being at the Senior Civil Service level. Following a recruitment exercise, the starting salary and remuneration package of the successful candidate was negotiated by the two finance departments, which resulted in a recommendation that the candidate be offered the highest salary point on the scale. This was approved by the Finance Ministers (North and South) following which the appointment was confirmed by the North/South Ministerial Council on 19 December 2000.
	Salary ranges for all the chief executives were based on detailed job descriptions for each post and an assessment of grading and salary levels made against the job evaluation system used within the Northern Ireland Civil Service. All the chief executive posts were assessed as falling within either the Northern Ireland Senior Civil Service level or the NICS Principal (Grade 7) level. The starting salaries were negotiated with each of the successful candidates and were agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance. The table at Annex 1 shows the comparison between the SEUPB and the other CEOs' remuneration packages.
	
		ANNEX 1 Comparison of North/South Implementation Bodies CEO Salaries
		
			  Chief Executive Senior Civil Service (Note 1)/NICS Grade 7  Current Salary Range  Current Salary 
			 SEUPB (Note 2) Senior Civil Service £51,250–£66,953 £66,953 
			 Waterways Ireland Senior Civil Service £70,725–£83,025 £70,725 
			 Food Safety Promotion Board (Note 3) Senior Civil Service E81,981–E102,478 (£50,828–£63,536) E87,165 (£54,042) 
			 Trade and Business Development Body Senior Civil Service £51,500–£72,100 £57,822 
			  
			 N/S Language Body Foras Na Gaeilge (Note 3)  The Boord o Ulster-Scotch Senior Civil Service  NICS Grade 7 E87,319–E100,200 (£54,138–£62,124) £29,744–£54,700 (effective 1/04/02) E87,319 (£54,138)  Not in post 
			 FCILC Loughs Agency (Note 2) Senior Civil Service £53,511–£63,946 £53,511 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The posts assessed at Senior Civil Service were aligned to the relevant pay bands and then adjusted to take account of the fact that the scales in the south had a significantly lower maximum.
	2. Two of the North/South Implementation Bodies' chief executives have been provided with cars.
	The chief executive of the Special EU Programmes Body is provided with a Mercedes Benz, which does not have a capital value in accounting terms to the organisation as it is leased. The current taxable benefit of the car is £11,203 or 14 per cent of his remuneration package.
	The chief executive of the Loughs Agency has use of a Landrover Freelander which has a current capital value of £8,703. The current taxable benefit of the car is £2,402. This vehicle is not part of the remuneration package.
	3. These CEOs are paid in euros—figures have been converted to sterling (£1 = E1.6129) for ease of comparison.

Cross-Border Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in the provision of pensions for staff of the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) at the September 2002 Plenary approved the outline of the proposed benefit structure for a common pension scheme (modelled on the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (NI)) for the North/South Implementation Bodies.
	Officials from both the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), in Northern Ireland, and the Department of Finance (DoF), in the Republic of Ireland, together with the Government Actuary's Department (GAD), in Great Britain, drew up a set of draft scheme rules on behalf of the bodies. This required considering a number of complex legal and other issues surrounding the unique status of a pension scheme for all North/South bodies (including Tourism Ireland Ltd.). They also secured preliminary statutory or other approvals from a wide range of stakeholders in both the UK and Republic of Ireland, including the bodies, Revenue organisations and public sector pensions departments.
	The bodies and sponsoring departments are currently considering a revised draft set of rules. Following agreement by these organisations, the final clearance from the other stakeholders will be sought prior to final approval.
	In the meantime, the bodies are consulting with the trade unions on the introduction of the scheme, and are making the other practical arrangements necessary to administer the scheme, when approved.

North/South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who are the political advisers to the North/South Ministerial Council.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The North/South Ministerial Council comprises Ministers from both jurisdictions who may have political advisers. There are however no political advisers to the North/South Ministerial Council as an entity.

Peace II Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why Peace II grant money has not been made available to organisations which are Ulster Scots; whether such money can now be made available; if so, through what mechanism; and what encouragement can be given to Ulster Scots groups.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Peace II money has been made available to several Ulster Scots organisations and others are under consideration. Peace II funding is accessed by applying to one of the programme's measures. Applications are assessed against the relevant criteria by selection panels and successful projects offered assistance. The Peace Programme is governed by principles and actions which promote equality of opportunity, including access across all sectors of the community, as defined by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. It is also targeted at those areas, sectors, communities and or groups adversely affected by the conflict. Advice and encouragement on how to apply can be obtained from the SEUPB. All organisations, including Ulster Scots organisations, across Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland can apply for funding.

Northern Ireland Health Service: Hospital Beds

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the number of beds available in the Health Service in Northern Ireland in all the medical specialities; and how that compares per head of the population with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: During 2001–02 on average there were 2,335.5 available hospital beds in the medical specialities within the Health Service in Northern Ireland.
	In the same period there were on average 8,419.1 available hospital beds across all specialities available within the Health Service in Northern Ireland.
	The medical specialities are defined within the Health Service in Northern Ireland as general medicine, gastroenterology, endocrinology, haematology (clinical), rehabilitation, palliative medicine, cardiology, dermatology, thoracic medicine, infectious diseases, genito-urinary medicine, nephrology, medical oncology, neurology, rheumatology, paediatrics, paediatric neurology and dental medicine.
	Comparable figures for the number of beds in the medical specialities across the United Kingdom are not available.
	The most recent figures available across the United Kingdom for all specialities show there were 5.1 available hospital beds per 1,000 population in Northern Ireland compared with 3.7, 5.0 and 6.8 in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.

EC Aid to Poorest Countries

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the proportion of the European Union's aid budget spent on the world's poorest countries in each of the past 10 years; and what action they are taking to ensure that the eradication of poverty is given the highest priority by the European Union.

Baroness Amos: The table below gives figures for the percentage of EC official development assistance (ODA) spent in the world's poorest countries from 1992 to 2001. Figures for 2002 will be available by June.
	
		Proportion of EC ODA going to the worlds poorest countries 1991–2001 (£ millions)
		
			 Year Aid to poorest countries Total EC aid % to poorest countries 
			 1992 1,933 2,379 72.2 
			 1993 1,980 2,404 53.3 
			 1994 2,376 3,087 58.7 
			 1995 2,292 2,926 60.0 
			 1996 2,479 3,171 51.8 
			 1997 2,346 3,083 45.7 
			 1998 2,499 3,661 46.2 
			 1999 2,213 3,735 42.9 
			 2000 2,328 3,977 37.5 
			 2001 3,253 4,979 43.4 
		
	
	We welcome the positive steps that have been taken to increase the proportion of EC aid going to the world's poorest people and its quality. This remains a priority for the UK Government. We are working through the annual budget setting process, the current revision of the Asia and Latin America Regulation and the mid-term review of the Mediterranean and Middle East regulation (MEDA) to secure an increase in the share of EC aid spent in low income countries towards the government target of 70 per cent by 2006.
	We are pressing the EC to pursue its reform efforts vigorously in order to implement the November 2000 development policy statement which for the first time made poverty reduction the central objective of EC development programs.

Burma

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding they have made available for wildlife projects in Burma; and how this money is being spent.

Baroness Amos: The UK's environmental work consists of ensuring we contribute to improve the quality of the global environment in areas set out by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg last year, such as sanitation and water, renewable energy, bio-diversity and oceans. Currently in Burma, the UK (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) provides funding through carefully selected agencies to protect and conserve biological and cultural diversity. These include projects on wildlife and forest conservation and creating capacity within local communities. In the current financial year 2003–04 our assistance in these areas will amount to around £122,000.

Burma

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funds are currently available to assist internally displaced people in Burma and to provide education for Burmese refugees in refugee camps on the Burma border.

Baroness Amos: DfID assistance for refugees in camps on the Thai-Burma border has focused mainly on meeting food needs and on UNHCR's protection role.We are not currently supporting programmes focused exclusively on meeting the needs of displaced people inside Burma.
	Financial assistance last year amounted to just under £2 million. DfID is also providing support to refugees through the European Commission. In 2002, the European Commission allocated 3.5 million euros (£2.5 million) for these purposes, 20 per cent of which is attributable to the UK Government.
	For the financial year 2003–04, DfID's overall allocation for bilateral programmes for Burma is currently £4 million. Additional support will continue to be made available for Burmese refugees outside the country.

Guantanamo Bay: UK Detainees

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether British officials have recently visited Guantanamo Bay.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: British officials paid a fifth visit to Guantanamo Bay between 21 and 28 April 2003. The officials were from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Security Service.
	The purpose of the visit was to ask questions relevant to national security, to establish the identity and nationality of a detainee believed to be British and to check on the welfare of all UK detainees.The identity and British nationality of the detainee concerned was confirmed. There are therefore nine UK detainees in Guantanamo Bay. All were seen by the visiting officials.
	The FCO official saw all the UK detainees individually. US officials observed all the meetings. The FCO official passed family messages and mail to the detainees and brought replies back to the UK which have now been passed to the detainees' families. Detainees are able to send and receive mail through the camp authorities and ICRC. Delivery can be slow.
	The FCO official asked all the UK detainees about their health, medical and non-medical treatment, diet, accommodation, exercise and other camp facilities.
	The UK detainees appeared to be in sound physical health. The medical issues raised by them are being addressed by the camp's medical services. The medical facilities available to the detainees are the same as those for US military personnel at Guantanamo Bay and are of a high standard.
	Overall, the UK detainees thought the diet provided satisfactory though repetitive. The detainees continue to be housed in accommodation with individual sleeping, washing and toilet facilities. They continue to have access to exercise, to practise their religion and to an expanded collection of reading material, which continues to include the Koran and Bible.
	The FCO official did not see or hear of mistreatment of UK detainees by the camp authorities.
	The visiting official found the camp authorities open and co-operative within limits dictated by security considerations.

Iran: Arms Embargo and UK Exports

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any goods subject to the national arms embargo have recently been approved for export to Iran.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have recently issued a licence for the export of night vision goggles which are of military specification. These goods are for use on the Iran/Afghanistan border against heroin smugglers, and the export is funded by the UN Drugs Control Programme (UNDCP). The UN offices in Vienna have confirmed that this application is legitimate. Her Majesty's Government are therefore satisfied that these goods would only be used for the end-use stated, and there is no risk of these goods being diverted for use by the Iranian military.

Income Support: Actively Seeking Work Rules

Lord Addington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the number of people between age 50 and retirement age, broken down by gender, who are not employed and who have been exempted from the actively seeking work rules.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information requested is set out in the table:
	
		People claiming income support aged 50 or over who are exempted from the actively seeking work rules1 ('000s)
		
			 Age Men Women 
			 50–59 2.6 4.1 
			 60–64 (2)59.2  
		
	
	Source:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2002.
	Notes:
	1. Figures do not include income support claimants in receipt of attendance allowance, invalid care allowance (claimant), industrial injuries benefit, disability living allowance, severe disablement allowance, statutory sick pay, incapacity benefit or disabled person's tax credit, lone parents, residential care or nursing home cases, claimants in hospital or those with caring responsibilities (ie with carer premium).
	2. Men aged 60–64 claiming income support do not need to satisfy the actively seeking work conditions.
	3. Figures are based on a 5 per cent sample and therefore subject to variation.
	4. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2003

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they introduced the variety of changes in fees payable under the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/547).

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: HM Treasury's Fees and Charges Guide says that the normal objective for charging schemes for statutory services should be full cost recovery. The various changes in the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2003 reflect this guidance.

EU Proposed Disability Directive

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will support or sponsor the European Union Disability Directive proposed for adoption in this European Year of Disabled People.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We are not aware of such a directive. If the EU was to propose a disability specific directive, the Government would consider it in the normal way.

Rural Economies and Communities Research

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will allocate the £0.5 million to create a rural evidence base as announced on 7 April; what specific projects will benefit; and whether a timetable has been laid down for the results from such work.

Lord Whitty: The additional £0.5 million per year has been allocated to the research budget of the Rural Economies and Communities Directorate (RECD). The priorities for research are outlined in the draft RECD Research Strategy for 2003–06 which was also published on 7 April (available at http://www.defra.gov. uk/science/S–IS/Strategy–03–06/Directorate–HTML/RECD. asp). A detailed work programme is being developed with a timetable for delivery, and projects are let on a rolling basis. The work programme includes projects on statistics, rural productivity, and access to services such as health, education and transport. As projects are let within the RECD programme, they are listed on the Defra website at http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project–data/projects.asp?M=KWS&V=RE0&SCOPE =0. Results will be made available on the same website as each project is completed.

Euro: Treasury Studies

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the publication, at this stage, of HM Treasury's concluded technical studies of the costs and benefits of United Kingdom entry into the eurozone would inhibit internal discussion within the Government; if so, what are their reasons for this view; and, if not, whether they will publish the studies forthwith so as to give the public access to government information.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Parliament has been explicitly informed through the Budget Statement, in statements to the Treasury Select Committee and in answers to Treasury Questions that the studies will be published alongside the assessment at the time of the Government's statement to Parliament on the euro on 9 June. Exemptions 2, 6 and 10 under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply to this request for information.

Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current status of the bid by the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital with the Royal Free Trust for new hospital development.

Baroness Andrews: We can confirm that the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital within the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust is one of the elements of the London Chain which is part of the national procurement exercise for independent sector diagnosis and treatment centres.
	The procurement exercise is on-going and invitations to negotiate for the London Chain were issued to a shortlist of independent providers at the beginning of April. The elements of the London Chain are intended to be operational by March 2005, or earlier if the independent sector can deliver accordingly.

Iraq

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the latest estimates of financial costs to the United Kingdom for the most recent war in Iraq; and what are the latest estimates of the financial resources so far specifically earmarked by the United Kingdom for humanitarian relief, reconstruction and political rehabilitation of Iraq.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It would be premature to make an estimate of the final costs of the recent military campaign in Iraq but we expect any such costs to be covered by the £3 billion special reserve announced by the Chancellor in the Budget.
	In March the Government set aside £240 million for humanitarian assistance in Iraq. A further £60 million was set aside by the Chancellor in the Budget to support the work of the UN on the reconstruction and development of Iraq.

Non-residential Property

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage by value of new leases granted on non-residential property will be in disadvantaged areas after 1 December 2003; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 May (WA 22–24), how the cost of exempting disadvantaged areas from stamp duty on the grant of new leases on non-residential property can be included in the overall estimate if it is not separately identifiable; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 May (WA 22–24), what was the "previous yield transaction data" on which estimates of the annual cost to the Exchequer of the abolition of stamp duty on non-residential property purchases in disadvantaged areas were based; how many such transactions there were; over what period; and what were the average and total values of relief given; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 May (WA 22–24), what has been the capital value of new non-residential properties developed in each of the last three years for which figures are available in the fifty wards listed.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I regret that a reliable estimate cannot be given for the percentage by value of new leases which will be granted on non-residential property in disadvantaged areas after 1 December 2003.
	The estimate of abolishing stamp duty on non-residential property in disadvantaged areas was made on an aggregate basis. Within this total, the amount attributable to new leases is too small a component to be estimated reliably.
	Stamp duty relief data for disadvantaged areas was used to calculate the percentage of yield attributable to these areas as a percentage of the yield for the United Kingdom as a whole while UK transaction data formed the basis for future projections of stamp duty. The data then available and the latest data, on non-residential transactions receiving relief are as follows:
	
		Commercial Transactions in disadvantaged wards receiving relief
		
			  Number of claims Amount of relief given (£) Average relief per claim (£) 
			 End November 2001 to end January 2003 758 749,010 990 
			 End January 2003 to end April 2003 354 8,433,500 23,820 
		
	
	Data on the capital value of new non-residential properties developed by ward are not available.

European Convention on Human Rights: Breaches

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 1 May (WA 120) whether they consider that legislation is necessary to give effect to decisions of the European Court of Human Rights where a breach by the United Kingdom of the European Convention on Human Rights relates not to a provision of incompatible domestic legislation but to an incompatible rule of common law.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Legislation is not usually necessary when a rule of common law is found by the European Court of Human Rights to be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, because the common law can be corrected by UK judges in the light of the judgment of the European Court. Under Section 6 of the Human Rights Act, a court or tribunal is bound to act compatibly with the convention rights unless prevented by primary legislation.